Apparatus for extracting ingots from molds.



Patented Feb. 5, |90l.

G. K. BUBERTS.

.APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING INGOTS FROM MOLDS.

(Application filed. Nov. 29, 1898.)

THE uc flms PETERS co, monmo.. WASKINGTON. n. c.

No. &67,577.

(No Model.)

UNirnn reres ATENT rrron GEORGE K. ROBERTS, OF JOLIET, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING INGOTS FROM MOLDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 667,577, dated February5, 1901.

Application filed November 29. 1898. Serial No. 697,766. (No model.)

To LtZZ whom 't may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE K. ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Joliet, in the county of Will and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Apparatus for Extracting Ingots fromMolds, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings and the figures thereon, which forma part of this specification.

My invention relates to the manufacture of steel ingots, and it has forits object to provide a serviceable and efficient apparatus for handlingthe molds and their cars or buggies and removing the ingots from themolds.

In steel manufacturing and converting plants the molten steel is pouredinto molds which are stationed in an upright position on cars orbuggies,and When the steel has cooled sufficiently to form a solid mass theingot is removed from the mold, the removal being effected as soon aspossible afterthe metal becomes solidified in order to retain andutilize the heat therein in the further working; of the steel. Myinvention is designed to effect such manipulation of the cars, molds,and ingots as will most fully meet the requirements of economical andefficient steel-manufacturing plants, and it accordingly consists ofmeans which will be now described, reference being had to the drawings,in which- Figure 1 is an end elevation of the appa-` ratus embodying myinvention, the supporting masonry being shown in section. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3is a plan view ofa pair ofingotmolds and their retaining-arms.

In the apparatus shown in the drawings the railway-trackl, upon whichthe ingot-cars 4 are transported from the point where the molds arefilled, terminates at one side of an elevator-well, a similar track 2being located in a lower plane and terminating adjacent to theelevator-well on the opposite side from the track 1. Theelevator-platform 3, which is located and operates in the well, isprovided with a section of track of sufficient length to receive thereona plurality ofingotcars and is so arranged and, operated by means of thepiston 5 of a hydraulic cylinder 6 as to be moved vertically thenecessary distance to bring its track into alinement With either thetrack l or the track 2.

Journaled in suitable bearings at the sides of the elevator-well are tworock-shafts 7, having rigidly fasiened thereto upwardlyprojecting arms 8and downwardly-projecting arms 9, the latter of which are connected tothe pistons of hydraulic cylinders 10 for the purpose of moving theupper ends of the arms 8 inward to engage the elevator-platforn 3 andserve as supports therefor when said platform is in the position shownin Figs. 1 and 2 and for the purpose of moving said arms outward when itis desired to lower the platform.

J ournaled in suitable bearings at the top of the elevator-well and atright angles to the shafts 7 are two. rock-shafts 11, to each of whichare rigidly fastened the lower ends of a set of upwardly-projecting arms12 and the inner en ds of one or more laterally-projecting arms 13, theouter ends of the latter being connected to the pistons of hydrauliccylinders l l. Two rock-shafts 15, located substantially parallel to andabove the rock-shafts 11, are journaled in suitable bearings supportedby cross-beams 19, forming paris of a framework 20. Each of therock-shafts 15 is provided with a plurality of pairs of inwardlyprojecting and approximatelyhorizontal arms 16, there being onepair of these arms for each mold to be handled by my apparatus. Therock-shafts 15 are actuated by means of arms 17, the inner ends of whichare rigidly attached to the said shafts and the outer ends of which areconnected to the pistons of the hydraulic cylinders 14 by means of rods18.

Supported by the bars 19 of the framework 20 are hydraulic cylinders 21,so located and arranged that their pistons 22 will operate verticallyand be in position to severally enter the molds handled by my apparatus.

As indicated in the drawings, each ingotcar will support one pair ofingot-molds 23 and the elevator-platform 3 will accommodate three cars.It Will be understood, however, that my invention is not limited asregards the number of cars handled at one time or the number of moldsper car. In order that my apparatus maybe operated in the mannerintended, each mold should be provided with position to support themolds.

some means with which the free ends of the arms 12 may engage When saidarms are iu I have shown each mold as provided with lugs 24: on two ofits opposite sides, so located as to perform the desired function; butitwill be underslood that other means might be employed.

In utilizing my invention for haudling ingot-cars and their loads andextracting ingots from the molds the loaded cars are received by way ofthe track l from the location where they Were filled with molten steeland are run upon the elevator-track, the elevator being in the positionindicated in full lines in the drawings, the upper ends of the arms 8being in engagemeut with the platform, so-as to hold it securely in thatposition, and the nolds being located directly under the correspondingpistons 22 of the cylinders 21. The elevator will then be preferablyraised a short distance and the upper ends of the arms 12 moved inwardinto contact with the molds by means of their Operating mechanism, sothat said ends will be located beneath the lugs 24. The arms 10 will besimultaneously lowered, as indicated in the drawings, so that their endswill rest against the sides of the molds, near their npper ends, inorder to serve as retainers to prevent the molds from swayin Theelevator will then be lowered to the position indieated in the drawings,and since the molds are now supported by means of the arms 12 the ingotsare supported solely by the cars. In case any of the ingots stick to themolds to such an extent that the action of gravity does not efiect theirseparation the pistons 22 of cylinders 21 may be actuated to force theingots out of the molds and onto the cars. After all the ingots havebeen separated from their molds the arms 8 will be moved away from theelevator-platform and the latter lowered by means of its Operatingmechanism, so as to bring its track into the plane of track 2, in whichposition the tops of the ingots are beneath the bottoms of the molds,and the cars on which the ingots are supported may be run out upon thetrack 2 and the ingots unloaded theref'om by suitable means and at thepoint desired. After the cars are unloaded they may be returned over thetrack 2 to the elevator and again elevated to receive the molds, thearms 12 being moved away from the latter, so as to permit them to restupon the cars. The cars hearing the molds may now be run out upon thetrack l and hauled to the location of the ladle, to be again filled. Ifdesired, the apparatus may be of such dimensions that the cars may beraised to such height above the track l, in ordertobring thesupporting-arms for the molds into operative engagement therewith, thatwhen the cars are again lowered to the level of the track 1 the tops ofthe ingots will be beneath the bottoms of the molds.

The apparatus may also be so constrcted and arranged as to dispense withthe elevation of the cars above the track l for the purpose of enablingthe free ends of the arms 12 to pass beneath the lugs on the molds.

Other Variations in the form and a-r'augement of parts may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and Itherefore desire it to be understood that my invention is not limited asregards the specific number, location, or form of parts utilized inpracticing my invention.

I claim as my inventionl. In apparatus for extracting ingots fronimolds, the conbination With an elevator, of movable means supported onthe foundation at the sides of and adjacent to said elevator andarranged to project upwardly to support the molds against downwardthrust, and means for forcing the ingots 'from the molds when held bysaid supporting means.

2. In apparatus for extraoting ingots from molds, the combination withan elevator, of mola-supporting arms nounted at the sides of andadjacent to said elevator and means for moving said arms into and out ofengagement with the molds.

3. In apparatus for extracting ingots from molds, the combination withan elevator adapted to receive an ingot-car and "to raise and lower thesame, of mola-supporting arms and mold-steadying arms and means formoving said arms into and out of engagement with the molds.

4. The eombination with an elevator having a track, a track having aterminus in close proximity to the elevator-well and an ingotcarprovided with ngot-molds having side lugs, of mold-supporting arms andmeans for rocking the arms to move their ends under the mold-lugs whenthe ingots are to be eX- tracted and for rocking the arms away from themolds when the car is elevated to receive them.

5. In apparatus for extracting ingots from molds, the combination withan elevator, of ingot--ears and traoks therefor, oppositely-arranged,pivoted, mold-supporting prop-arms, horizontally arranged, pivoted, swaypreventing arms, means for jointly actuating said arms to engage moldsplaced on the ingot-cars carried by the elevator, andvertically-arranged pistons stationed above the molds and adapted to beoperated to eject from said molds such ingots as resist the action ofgravity, substantially as specified.

6. In apparatus for eXtracting ingots from molds, the combination withan elevator and its actuating mechanism, of rock-shafts, arms arrangedto engage the molds rigidly connected to said rock shafts, and aetuatingmechanism connected to said roek-shafts to rock the same, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

7. In apparatus for extracting ingots from molds, the conibination Withan elevator, of mold-supporting arms and mold-steadying arms, andactuating mechanism connected to IOO IIO

IZO

both sets of arms whereby they are simultaneousiyoperated, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

8. In apparatus for extracting ingots from molds, the Comhination Withan eievato', of mom-supporting arms and mold-steadying arms, means foraetuating said arms simultaneonsly, ingot-ejeetors and means foractnating the same, snbstantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. In apparatus for extraeting ingots from molds,the combination Withone or more rnolds and an eievator for raising and lowering the same, ofmeans for supporting the mold or molds While the elevator lowers theingots the'efron and additional means for steady- PETER MERGLER, WM. J.HUTCHINS.

